Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
Felix Verdejo Enters Plea Of Not Guilty On Charges Of Murder, Carjacking And Kidnapping
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
Judge: Verdejo is unable to afford adequate legal representation
On May 14th, the judge presiding over the capital murder case of professional boxer Felix Verdejo examined an affidavit from Verdejo regarding his ability to pay for an attorney. The judge made a preliminary determination that "based on that information, it seems that he is financially unable to afford adequate representation.” As a result, Verdejo will be eligible for two court-appointed attorneys given that the death penalty is a possibility for him. So far, Verdejo has had his own hired attorney appearing on his behalf. The married former Puerto Rican Olympic boxer, stands accused of carjacking and kidnapping resulting in the death of his pregnant girlfriend, crimes punishable by the death penalty.
May 11th update: A brief hearing was held in Puerto Rico on Tuesday for Verdejo. Present on Verdejo's behalf were three attorneys. Verdejo, in custody for eight days now, was present by video and assisted by a court interpreter. He had waived his right to appear physically at the hearing and consented to proceed via video. Verdejo was found competent to understand the proceedings. He waived the reading of the indictment and entered a plea of not guilty as to all counts. The Government was given seven days to produce certain evidence and the defense has 14 days thereafter to file motions against such evidence being admitted at trial. The case was referred to U.S. District Judge Pedro A. Delgado for further proceedings. The Government moved to keep Verdejo in detention pending trial. After hearing the parties, the court ordered Verdejo to remain in detention pending further proceedings. Included in the court's reasoning for keeping Verdejo detained were findings that the "weight of evidence against the defendant is strong" and that Verdejo is "subject to lengthy period of incarceration if convicted."
On May 14th, the judge presiding over the capital murder case of professional boxer Felix Verdejo examined an affidavit from Verdejo regarding his ability to pay for an attorney. The judge made a preliminary determination that "based on that information, it seems that he is financially unable to afford adequate representation.” As a result, Verdejo will be eligible for two court-appointed attorneys given that the death penalty is a possibility for him. So far, Verdejo has had his own hired attorney appearing on his behalf. The married former Puerto Rican Olympic boxer, stands accused of carjacking and kidnapping resulting in the death of his pregnant girlfriend, crimes punishable by the death penalty.
May 11th update: A brief hearing was held in Puerto Rico on Tuesday for Verdejo. Present on Verdejo's behalf were three attorneys. Verdejo, in custody for eight days now, was present by video and assisted by a court interpreter. He had waived his right to appear physically at the hearing and consented to proceed via video. Verdejo was found competent to understand the proceedings. He waived the reading of the indictment and entered a plea of not guilty as to all counts. The Government was given seven days to produce certain evidence and the defense has 14 days thereafter to file motions against such evidence being admitted at trial. The case was referred to U.S. District Judge Pedro A. Delgado for further proceedings. The Government moved to keep Verdejo in detention pending trial. After hearing the parties, the court ordered Verdejo to remain in detention pending further proceedings. Included in the court's reasoning for keeping Verdejo detained were findings that the "weight of evidence against the defendant is strong" and that Verdejo is "subject to lengthy period of incarceration if convicted."
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
Prosecutors Yet To Decide Whether To Pursue Death Penalty Against Felix Verdejo; Next Court Date 9/27
Felix Verdejo will remain in prison while legal teams surrounding his current trial determine whether to proceed as a capital punishment case.
A status conference hearing held virtually Friday morning heard updates from the United States Attorney’s Office and the respective defense teams for Verdejo and alleged accomplice Luis Antonio Cádiz-Martinez. Both sides agreed that more time was needed in order to provide the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (USDCPR) with sufficient updates, including that of the final decision to have the death penalty on the table for the charges levied against Verdejo.
District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernandez set the next court hearing for September 27th at 9:30 a.m. local time. Verdejo will remain remanded in federal prison in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Verdejo—a 2012 Olympian for Puerto Rico and former lightweight contender—faces federal charges of carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and killing of an unborn child in the abduction and murder of Keishla Marlen Rodriguez, with whom he had a years-long love affair.
A guilty verdict for any of the three charges will carry the maximum punishment of the death penalty, should the Justice Department choose to pursue. That decision will be made once both sides are able to review evidence. Verdejo also faces one charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, though only in conjunction with a guilty verdict returned in any of the aforementioned charges.
“The government made available the first batch discovery, USB consisting of 21GB of data. Defense counsel will arrange for items to be picked up next week,” Jonathan Gottfried, lead prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney informed the court on Friday via Zoom conference call, to which select media members—including Boxing Scene—were granted audio-only access. “We have been in touch with defense counsel about logistics such as UBS drives and will go into details with the court. We are working out logistics of discovery and are in the process of providing discovery at this stage. It’s still in the very initially stages.”
Verdejo is represented by defense attorneys Laura Maldonado and Jose Irizarry and capital punishment expert David Ruhnke, all three of whom were present for Friday’s hearing. Cadiz-Martinez was represented by capital punishment expert Gary Proctor, while lead attorney Jose Aguayo was unavailable to due to a change of plea status hearing in a separate and unrelated case.
Both defendants have entered separate pleas of not guilty to all charges.
Both legal teams agreed to a 90-day period to finalize evidence, with Verdejo’s legal team requesting updates on the capital punishment aspect of the case.
“One thing we would like to request from United States Attorney is if they pursue an expedited decision—which has to be authorization for recommendation against the death penalty—that we are advised of that as soon as possible,” noted Ruhnke. “We are assembling a defense team, proceeding [for the moment] assuming it is a capital punishment case.”
A change in status would limit the maximum sentence—if found guilty—to 99 years in prison, since Puerto Rico does not have the death penalty for cases not charged under federal law.
Verdejo has remained in prison since May 2, when he surrendered to authorities following a three-day search for Rodriguez who was first reported missing by family members on April 29. A rescue mission was changed to a recovery mission once preliminary evidence suggested she was no longer alive. Those fears were realized on May 1, when she was pulled from Laguna San Jose in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
A detailed investigation report—aided by what reports indicate as a cooperating witness with first-hand knowledge of the case—revealed that Verdejo and Cádiz-Martinez both intentionally killed Rodriguez and “committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner in that it involved serious physical abuse to the victim.”
A shrine remains in place along the bridge in memory of Rodriguez.
Verdejo (27-2, 17KOs) has not fought since a ninth-round knockout loss to Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani (19-1, 13KOs) last December 12 at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. A win would have placed the 28-year-old Puerto Rican boxer on a path to next face lineal lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12KOs). He was well on his way to victory, twice flooring Nakatani before suffering two knockdowns in the fateful ninth round of their 2020 Fight of the Year entrant.
Verdejo still remains under contract with Top Rank, though all have been removed between the boxer and the Las Vegas-based promotional outfit.
Nakatani fights for the first time since his win over Verdejo. The 5’11 ½” lightweight contender returns to the ring this weekend in a scheduled 12-round lightweight contest versus former three-division titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko, who ousted Verdejo from competition during the 2012 London Olympics.
Felix Verdejo will remain in prison while legal teams surrounding his current trial determine whether to proceed as a capital punishment case.
A status conference hearing held virtually Friday morning heard updates from the United States Attorney’s Office and the respective defense teams for Verdejo and alleged accomplice Luis Antonio Cádiz-Martinez. Both sides agreed that more time was needed in order to provide the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (USDCPR) with sufficient updates, including that of the final decision to have the death penalty on the table for the charges levied against Verdejo.
District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernandez set the next court hearing for September 27th at 9:30 a.m. local time. Verdejo will remain remanded in federal prison in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Verdejo—a 2012 Olympian for Puerto Rico and former lightweight contender—faces federal charges of carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and killing of an unborn child in the abduction and murder of Keishla Marlen Rodriguez, with whom he had a years-long love affair.
A guilty verdict for any of the three charges will carry the maximum punishment of the death penalty, should the Justice Department choose to pursue. That decision will be made once both sides are able to review evidence. Verdejo also faces one charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, though only in conjunction with a guilty verdict returned in any of the aforementioned charges.
“The government made available the first batch discovery, USB consisting of 21GB of data. Defense counsel will arrange for items to be picked up next week,” Jonathan Gottfried, lead prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney informed the court on Friday via Zoom conference call, to which select media members—including Boxing Scene—were granted audio-only access. “We have been in touch with defense counsel about logistics such as UBS drives and will go into details with the court. We are working out logistics of discovery and are in the process of providing discovery at this stage. It’s still in the very initially stages.”
Verdejo is represented by defense attorneys Laura Maldonado and Jose Irizarry and capital punishment expert David Ruhnke, all three of whom were present for Friday’s hearing. Cadiz-Martinez was represented by capital punishment expert Gary Proctor, while lead attorney Jose Aguayo was unavailable to due to a change of plea status hearing in a separate and unrelated case.
Both defendants have entered separate pleas of not guilty to all charges.
Both legal teams agreed to a 90-day period to finalize evidence, with Verdejo’s legal team requesting updates on the capital punishment aspect of the case.
“One thing we would like to request from United States Attorney is if they pursue an expedited decision—which has to be authorization for recommendation against the death penalty—that we are advised of that as soon as possible,” noted Ruhnke. “We are assembling a defense team, proceeding [for the moment] assuming it is a capital punishment case.”
A change in status would limit the maximum sentence—if found guilty—to 99 years in prison, since Puerto Rico does not have the death penalty for cases not charged under federal law.
Verdejo has remained in prison since May 2, when he surrendered to authorities following a three-day search for Rodriguez who was first reported missing by family members on April 29. A rescue mission was changed to a recovery mission once preliminary evidence suggested she was no longer alive. Those fears were realized on May 1, when she was pulled from Laguna San Jose in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
A detailed investigation report—aided by what reports indicate as a cooperating witness with first-hand knowledge of the case—revealed that Verdejo and Cádiz-Martinez both intentionally killed Rodriguez and “committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner in that it involved serious physical abuse to the victim.”
A shrine remains in place along the bridge in memory of Rodriguez.
Verdejo (27-2, 17KOs) has not fought since a ninth-round knockout loss to Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani (19-1, 13KOs) last December 12 at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. A win would have placed the 28-year-old Puerto Rican boxer on a path to next face lineal lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12KOs). He was well on his way to victory, twice flooring Nakatani before suffering two knockdowns in the fateful ninth round of their 2020 Fight of the Year entrant.
Verdejo still remains under contract with Top Rank, though all have been removed between the boxer and the Las Vegas-based promotional outfit.
Nakatani fights for the first time since his win over Verdejo. The 5’11 ½” lightweight contender returns to the ring this weekend in a scheduled 12-round lightweight contest versus former three-division titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko, who ousted Verdejo from competition during the 2012 London Olympics.
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
Verdejo Remains In Prison As U.S. Attorney's Office Still Considering Death Penalty; Next Hearing December 17
Felix Verdejo will remain in prison at least two more months while waiting on a decision as to whether the death penalty will be on the table for his current trial.
The latest status conference hearing produced the same results from the preceding session three months ago, with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico asking for more time to review all matters before reaching a decision in pursuing as a capital punishment case. The U.S. Attorney’s office believes another 60 days is warranted to provide the court with sufficient updates and a final decision in how to proceed with its case against Verdejo and alleged accomplice Luis Antonio Cadiz-Martinez.
“Capital decision is pending before the Attorney General,” Jonathan Gottfried, lead prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney informed the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (USDCPR) during Friday’s hearing. “I wish I could provide the court with a specific date as we have one.
“We are producing another round of discovery to both sets out counsel next week. What the government would propose is another status conference within 60 days. The government is cautiously optimistic of further clarity by that time as to the next steps in the case.”
District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernandez set the next court hearing for December 17th at 9:30 a.m. local time, which was mutually agreed to by the legal teams for Verdejo and Cadiz-Martinez agreed.
Verdejo—who represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 London Olympics—will remain in federal prison in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The San Juan-based boxer current stands trial on one count each of carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and killing of an unborn child in the abduction and murder of Keishla Marlen Rodriguez, with whom he had a years-long love affair.
A guilty verdict returned on any of the three charges will carry the maximum punishment of the death penalty, should the Justice Department choose to pursue. Verdejo also faces one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, though only in conjunction with a guilty verdict in any of the aforementioned charges.
Should the U.S. Attorney’s office not pursue the matter as a capital punishment, Verdejo would then face a maximum of 99 years in prison if found guilty on any of the charges, since Puerto Rico does not have the death penalty for cases not tried under federal law.
Verdejo is represented by defense attorneys Laura Maldonado and Jose Irizarry and capital punishment expert David Ruhnke, all three of whom were present for Friday’s hearing. Cadiz-Martinez was represented by capital punishment expert Gary Proctor and lead attorney Jose Aguayo. Both legal teams agreed to an additional 60-day period to finalize evidence.
Verdejo has remained in prison since May 2, when he surrendered to authorities following a three-day search for Rodriguez who was first reported missing by family members on April 29. A rescue mission was changed to a recovery mission once preliminary evidence suggested she was no longer alive. Those fears were realized on May 1, when she was pulled from Laguna San Jose in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
A detailed investigation report—aided by what reports indicate as a cooperating witness with first-hand knowledge of the case—revealed that Verdejo and Cádiz-Martinez both intentionally killed Rodriguez and “committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner in that it involved serious physical abuse to the victim.”
A shrine remains in place along the bridge in memory of Rodriguez.
Verdejo (27-2, 17KOs) has not fought since a ninth-round knockout loss to Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani (19-1-1, 13KOs) last December 12 at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
A win would have placed the 28-year-old Verdejo on a path to next face lineal lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12KOs). He was well on his way to victory, twice flooring Nakatani before suffering two knockdowns in the fateful ninth round of their 2020 Fight of the Year entrant.
Verdejo will have been out of the ring for one full year by the time of his next hearing. He remains under contract with Top Rank for legal reasons pending the outcome of his trial, although his boxing career is all but through.
Felix Verdejo will remain in prison at least two more months while waiting on a decision as to whether the death penalty will be on the table for his current trial.
The latest status conference hearing produced the same results from the preceding session three months ago, with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico asking for more time to review all matters before reaching a decision in pursuing as a capital punishment case. The U.S. Attorney’s office believes another 60 days is warranted to provide the court with sufficient updates and a final decision in how to proceed with its case against Verdejo and alleged accomplice Luis Antonio Cadiz-Martinez.
“Capital decision is pending before the Attorney General,” Jonathan Gottfried, lead prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney informed the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico (USDCPR) during Friday’s hearing. “I wish I could provide the court with a specific date as we have one.
“We are producing another round of discovery to both sets out counsel next week. What the government would propose is another status conference within 60 days. The government is cautiously optimistic of further clarity by that time as to the next steps in the case.”
District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernandez set the next court hearing for December 17th at 9:30 a.m. local time, which was mutually agreed to by the legal teams for Verdejo and Cadiz-Martinez agreed.
Verdejo—who represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 London Olympics—will remain in federal prison in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The San Juan-based boxer current stands trial on one count each of carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and killing of an unborn child in the abduction and murder of Keishla Marlen Rodriguez, with whom he had a years-long love affair.
A guilty verdict returned on any of the three charges will carry the maximum punishment of the death penalty, should the Justice Department choose to pursue. Verdejo also faces one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, though only in conjunction with a guilty verdict in any of the aforementioned charges.
Should the U.S. Attorney’s office not pursue the matter as a capital punishment, Verdejo would then face a maximum of 99 years in prison if found guilty on any of the charges, since Puerto Rico does not have the death penalty for cases not tried under federal law.
Verdejo is represented by defense attorneys Laura Maldonado and Jose Irizarry and capital punishment expert David Ruhnke, all three of whom were present for Friday’s hearing. Cadiz-Martinez was represented by capital punishment expert Gary Proctor and lead attorney Jose Aguayo. Both legal teams agreed to an additional 60-day period to finalize evidence.
Verdejo has remained in prison since May 2, when he surrendered to authorities following a three-day search for Rodriguez who was first reported missing by family members on April 29. A rescue mission was changed to a recovery mission once preliminary evidence suggested she was no longer alive. Those fears were realized on May 1, when she was pulled from Laguna San Jose in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
A detailed investigation report—aided by what reports indicate as a cooperating witness with first-hand knowledge of the case—revealed that Verdejo and Cádiz-Martinez both intentionally killed Rodriguez and “committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner in that it involved serious physical abuse to the victim.”
A shrine remains in place along the bridge in memory of Rodriguez.
Verdejo (27-2, 17KOs) has not fought since a ninth-round knockout loss to Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani (19-1-1, 13KOs) last December 12 at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
A win would have placed the 28-year-old Verdejo on a path to next face lineal lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12KOs). He was well on his way to victory, twice flooring Nakatani before suffering two knockdowns in the fateful ninth round of their 2020 Fight of the Year entrant.
Verdejo will have been out of the ring for one full year by the time of his next hearing. He remains under contract with Top Rank for legal reasons pending the outcome of his trial, although his boxing career is all but through.
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
U.S. Attorney To Not Pursue Death Penalty Against Felix Verdejo, Accomplice
Capital punishment is no longer on the table in the ongoing criminal case involving Felix Verdejo.
A months-long discussion over whether to pursue the death penalty for the multiple charges against the disgraced lightweight boxer and alleged accomplice Luis Antonio Cadiz-Martinez was settled on Monday. The U.S. Attorney’s office has decided to no longer no proceed in that direction after introducing the option in the weeks following Verdejo’s arrest on allegations of carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and killing of an unborn child in the abduction and murder of Keishla Marlen Rodriguez, with whom he had a years-long love affair.
“The United States of American hereby notifies the Court that it will not seek the death penalty in this case against Félix Verdejo-Sánchez and Luis Antonio Cádiz-Martínez,” W. Stephen Muldrow, lead counsel for the U.S. Attorney for notified the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico in an official letter, a copy of which was obtained by BS.com.
Felix Verdejo will remain in federal prison in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico until at least his next court date of March 18. Despite the absence of capital punishment, the San Juan-based boxer still faces up to 99 years in prison on the aforementioned charges if found guilty. Verdejo also faces one charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, though only in conjunction with a guilty verdict returned in any of the aforementioned charges.
Verdejo has remained in prison since May 2, when he surrendered to authorities following a three-day search for Rodriguez who was first reported missing by family members on April 29. A rescue mission was changed to a recovery mission once preliminary evidence suggested she was no longer alive. Those fears were realized on May 1, when she was pulled from Laguna San Jose in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
A detailed investigation report—aided by what reports indicate as a cooperating witness with first-hand knowledge of the case—revealed that Verdejo and Cádiz-Martinez both intentionally killed Rodriguez and “committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner in that it involved serious physical abuse to the victim.”
A shrine remains in place along the bridge in memory of Rodriguez.
Three separate status conference hearings have been held, the most recent taking place last December 17. All three sessions concluded with the request for more time to review evidence, with the court ruling that awaiting the death penalty certification by the Attorney General outweighs the defendants' and the community's interest in a speedy trial.
With the case no longer proceeding under the assumption of capital punishment, the next status conference should result in an official court date to begin trial.
Verdejo (27-2, 17KOs) has not fought since a ninth-round knockout loss to Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani (19-1-1, 13KOs) last December 12 at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. A win would have placed the 28-year-old Puerto Rican boxer on a path to next face lineal lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12KOs). He was well on his way to victory, twice flooring Nakatani before suffering two knockdowns in the fateful ninth round of their 2020 Fight of the Year entrant.
Verdejo signed with Top Rank following a standout amateur career capped by his appearance in the 2012 London Olympics. The Las Vegas-based company has yet to drop Verdejo from its roster, although his name no longer appears in any company promotional material.
Capital punishment is no longer on the table in the ongoing criminal case involving Felix Verdejo.
A months-long discussion over whether to pursue the death penalty for the multiple charges against the disgraced lightweight boxer and alleged accomplice Luis Antonio Cadiz-Martinez was settled on Monday. The U.S. Attorney’s office has decided to no longer no proceed in that direction after introducing the option in the weeks following Verdejo’s arrest on allegations of carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and killing of an unborn child in the abduction and murder of Keishla Marlen Rodriguez, with whom he had a years-long love affair.
“The United States of American hereby notifies the Court that it will not seek the death penalty in this case against Félix Verdejo-Sánchez and Luis Antonio Cádiz-Martínez,” W. Stephen Muldrow, lead counsel for the U.S. Attorney for notified the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico in an official letter, a copy of which was obtained by BS.com.
Felix Verdejo will remain in federal prison in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico until at least his next court date of March 18. Despite the absence of capital punishment, the San Juan-based boxer still faces up to 99 years in prison on the aforementioned charges if found guilty. Verdejo also faces one charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, though only in conjunction with a guilty verdict returned in any of the aforementioned charges.
Verdejo has remained in prison since May 2, when he surrendered to authorities following a three-day search for Rodriguez who was first reported missing by family members on April 29. A rescue mission was changed to a recovery mission once preliminary evidence suggested she was no longer alive. Those fears were realized on May 1, when she was pulled from Laguna San Jose in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
A detailed investigation report—aided by what reports indicate as a cooperating witness with first-hand knowledge of the case—revealed that Verdejo and Cádiz-Martinez both intentionally killed Rodriguez and “committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner in that it involved serious physical abuse to the victim.”
A shrine remains in place along the bridge in memory of Rodriguez.
Three separate status conference hearings have been held, the most recent taking place last December 17. All three sessions concluded with the request for more time to review evidence, with the court ruling that awaiting the death penalty certification by the Attorney General outweighs the defendants' and the community's interest in a speedy trial.
With the case no longer proceeding under the assumption of capital punishment, the next status conference should result in an official court date to begin trial.
Verdejo (27-2, 17KOs) has not fought since a ninth-round knockout loss to Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani (19-1-1, 13KOs) last December 12 at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. A win would have placed the 28-year-old Puerto Rican boxer on a path to next face lineal lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12KOs). He was well on his way to victory, twice flooring Nakatani before suffering two knockdowns in the fateful ninth round of their 2020 Fight of the Year entrant.
Verdejo signed with Top Rank following a standout amateur career capped by his appearance in the 2012 London Olympics. The Las Vegas-based company has yet to drop Verdejo from its roster, although his name no longer appears in any company promotional material.
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
Felix Verdejo - Counsel Granted 90-Day Transitional Period In Ongoing Criminal Case
Felix Verdejo will remain in prison through at least his next trial date.
The transition period and the process in general, however, has taken a financial toll on the boxer and the ability to have proper representation in a court of law.
Lead counsel for Verdejo and alleged accomplice Luis Antonio Cadiz-Martinez met in a status conference hearing Thursday afternoon at The United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico in San Juan. The meeting was the first since the latest significant development in the case since prosecutors confirmed that the U.S. Attorney’s office will not the matter as a capital punishment case.
Verdejo remains in prison awaiting trial on charges of carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and killing of an unborn child in the abduction and murder of former lover Keishla Marlen Rodriguez last April. With the death penalty no longer on the table, he faces up to 99 years in prison on each individual charge if found guilty.
The former lightweight contender also faces one charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, though only in conjunction with a guilty verdict returned in any of the other charges.
The change in course resulted in the honorable judge Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernandez granting a 90-day transitional period for the legal teams to sufficiently prepare for the non-federal case. The transition will mean that attorneys Laura Maldonado and David Ruhnke will remove themselves from the case. Ruhnke was brought aboard as an expert federal death penalty resource counsel, whose services are no longer necessary—a sentiment echoed by the counsel previously appointed alongside him.
“Both the appointment of Mr. Ruhnke and I are no longer justified,” Maldonado stated. “Mr. Ruhnke was appointed lead counsel (at the time of consideration of pursuing as a capital punishment case). His appointment is no longer necessary and mine is no longer justified.”
That would leave attorney Jose Irizarry as the lone member of the team to remain on board, although he has concerns of his own in moving forward in present capacity. “This is a very difficult case. I need an investigator and paralegal. If not, it will all be in favor of the government. The government will have all the resources and we will have no resources to try the case.”
The issue understandably remains a point of concern, as Vedejo was already believed to have been financially strained in the early stages of the ongoing court case. The 2012 Puerto Rico Olympian has not boxed since December 2020, when he was knocked out in the ninth round by Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani. Verdejo scored two early knockdowns before falling apart late in suffering the stoppage in their ESPN-televised bout from MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
The removal of Maldonado and Ruhnke from the legal team merely eases the burden though still leaves remaining counsel concerned over how to proceed without the proper financial resources in place. Irizarry turned to the court to assist, though is not in position to do so—as he was made aware—since he is not a CJA (Criminal Justice Act)-appointed attorney.
“You can do it for free,” replied judge Delgado-Hernandez. “That’s up to you. Every professional has that alternative. What you are asking me to do is to compromise CJA funds. You are not CJA-appointed. End of story.”
The one win that came of Thursday’s session was the defense team successfully petitioning for a longer transitional period. The court sought a 15-day window to sort out such matters in the interest of a speedy trial, though attorney Maldonado presented a compelling argument that far more time was necessary.
Judge Delgado-Hernandez set aside a new court date of Friday, May 13 for the next status hearing.
Verdejo has remained in prison since May 2, when he surrendered to authorities following a three-day search for Rodriguez who was first reported missing by family members on April 29. A rescue mission was changed to a recovery mission once preliminary evidence suggested she was no longer alive. Those fears were realized on May 1, when she was pulled from Laguna San Jose in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
A detailed investigation report—aided by what reports indicate as a cooperating witness with first-hand knowledge of the case—revealed that Verdejo and Cádiz-Martinez both intentionally killed Rodriguez and “committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner in that it involved serious physical abuse to the victim.”
A shrine remains in place along the bridge in memory of Rodriguez.
Three separate status conference hearings have been held, the most recent taking place last December 17. All three sessions concluded with the request for more time to review evidence, with the court ruling that awaiting the death penalty certification by the Attorney General outweighs the defendants' and the community's interest in a speedy trial.
With the case no longer proceeding under the assumption of capital punishment, the next status conference was expected to result in an official court date to begin trial. That moment will have to come in May.
With the matter no longer a capital punishment case, Verdejo will serve in a stateside-based prison if found guilty of any or all charges.
Felix Verdejo will remain in prison through at least his next trial date.
The transition period and the process in general, however, has taken a financial toll on the boxer and the ability to have proper representation in a court of law.
Lead counsel for Verdejo and alleged accomplice Luis Antonio Cadiz-Martinez met in a status conference hearing Thursday afternoon at The United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico in San Juan. The meeting was the first since the latest significant development in the case since prosecutors confirmed that the U.S. Attorney’s office will not the matter as a capital punishment case.
Verdejo remains in prison awaiting trial on charges of carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and killing of an unborn child in the abduction and murder of former lover Keishla Marlen Rodriguez last April. With the death penalty no longer on the table, he faces up to 99 years in prison on each individual charge if found guilty.
The former lightweight contender also faces one charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime. The offense carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, though only in conjunction with a guilty verdict returned in any of the other charges.
The change in course resulted in the honorable judge Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernandez granting a 90-day transitional period for the legal teams to sufficiently prepare for the non-federal case. The transition will mean that attorneys Laura Maldonado and David Ruhnke will remove themselves from the case. Ruhnke was brought aboard as an expert federal death penalty resource counsel, whose services are no longer necessary—a sentiment echoed by the counsel previously appointed alongside him.
“Both the appointment of Mr. Ruhnke and I are no longer justified,” Maldonado stated. “Mr. Ruhnke was appointed lead counsel (at the time of consideration of pursuing as a capital punishment case). His appointment is no longer necessary and mine is no longer justified.”
That would leave attorney Jose Irizarry as the lone member of the team to remain on board, although he has concerns of his own in moving forward in present capacity. “This is a very difficult case. I need an investigator and paralegal. If not, it will all be in favor of the government. The government will have all the resources and we will have no resources to try the case.”
The issue understandably remains a point of concern, as Vedejo was already believed to have been financially strained in the early stages of the ongoing court case. The 2012 Puerto Rico Olympian has not boxed since December 2020, when he was knocked out in the ninth round by Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani. Verdejo scored two early knockdowns before falling apart late in suffering the stoppage in their ESPN-televised bout from MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
The removal of Maldonado and Ruhnke from the legal team merely eases the burden though still leaves remaining counsel concerned over how to proceed without the proper financial resources in place. Irizarry turned to the court to assist, though is not in position to do so—as he was made aware—since he is not a CJA (Criminal Justice Act)-appointed attorney.
“You can do it for free,” replied judge Delgado-Hernandez. “That’s up to you. Every professional has that alternative. What you are asking me to do is to compromise CJA funds. You are not CJA-appointed. End of story.”
The one win that came of Thursday’s session was the defense team successfully petitioning for a longer transitional period. The court sought a 15-day window to sort out such matters in the interest of a speedy trial, though attorney Maldonado presented a compelling argument that far more time was necessary.
Judge Delgado-Hernandez set aside a new court date of Friday, May 13 for the next status hearing.
Verdejo has remained in prison since May 2, when he surrendered to authorities following a three-day search for Rodriguez who was first reported missing by family members on April 29. A rescue mission was changed to a recovery mission once preliminary evidence suggested she was no longer alive. Those fears were realized on May 1, when she was pulled from Laguna San Jose in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
A detailed investigation report—aided by what reports indicate as a cooperating witness with first-hand knowledge of the case—revealed that Verdejo and Cádiz-Martinez both intentionally killed Rodriguez and “committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner in that it involved serious physical abuse to the victim.”
A shrine remains in place along the bridge in memory of Rodriguez.
Three separate status conference hearings have been held, the most recent taking place last December 17. All three sessions concluded with the request for more time to review evidence, with the court ruling that awaiting the death penalty certification by the Attorney General outweighs the defendants' and the community's interest in a speedy trial.
With the case no longer proceeding under the assumption of capital punishment, the next status conference was expected to result in an official court date to begin trial. That moment will have to come in May.
With the matter no longer a capital punishment case, Verdejo will serve in a stateside-based prison if found guilty of any or all charges.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
the 90 day transitional period should now be over..
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
Felix Verdejo Found Guilty On Two Of Four Charges In Murder of Kelshla Rodriguez; Sentencing Scheduled For Nov. 3
Felix Verdejo was found guilty on two of the four charges he faced for more than two years in the murder of Keishla Marlen Rodriguez Ortiz.
A jury of nine men and three women in a Puerto Rico federal court concluded that Verdejo was guilty of Kidnapping Resulting in Death and Death of an Unborn child. The honorable Judge Pedro Delgado Hernandez informed the disgraced former boxer of the decision after the panel returned its verdict shortly after 8:00 p.m. local time Friday evening.
“Mr. Verdejo, a jury of your peers found you guilty on counts two and four beyond a reasonable doubt,” Hernandez said upon the conclusion of the 25-day trial.
Each charge separately carries a maximum term of 99 years in prison, since the death penalty was not on the table. The jury was hung on the remaining two charges—Carjacking Resulting in Death and Discharging a Firearm in Relation to a Violent Crime. The carjacking charge also carried a maximum 99-year sentence; a life sentence would have accompanied the firearms charge since it would have accompanied at least one other guilty charge.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 3 at 2:00 p.m. local time.
Friday’s verdict brings closure to a horrifically tragic development dating back to last April, when Rodriguez was missing for three days before found dead on May 1, 2021. Verdejo was initially questioned in her disappearance and then upgraded from person of interest to prime suspect, after which he surrendered to authorities on May 2, 2021.
It was learned shortly after Rodriguez’s disappearance that she had a years-long affair with Verdejo and was one month pregnant with his child.
Verdejo was charged along with co-defendant Luis Antonio Cadiz-Martinez, who separately pleaded guilty last November. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, though consideration for lesser time was due to his agreed cooperation in implicating Verdejo’s role in the gruesome murder of Rodriguez, who was drugged, abducted and shot as she was deposited into Laguna San Jose under the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge.
A non-guilty plea was entered by Verdejo on May 11, 2021, after which point he was jailed for the duration of the criminal case which lasted nearly 27 months. The case appeared before a jury earlier this summer and concluded earlier this week. The jury deliberated for more than three days before reaching its verdict on all four charges.
A lengthy delay in proceeding to trial was due to the change in dynamics of the case.
The government explored the possibility of pursuing a death penalty case before it was taken off the table on January 31. The shift meant a reshuffling of Verdejo’s legal team which was largely comprised of capital punishment experts at the time. Further delays came when it was learned that the former boxer—who represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 London Olympics—lacked the funds to secure proper representations for such a complex trial.
Verdejo (27-2, 17KOs) was already believed to have been financially strained in the early stages of the ongoing court case, having not boxed since December 2020. The former lightweight contender was knocked out in the ninth round by Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani, having scored two early knockdowns before falling apart late in suffering the stoppage in their ESPN-televised bout from MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
Not only will he never box again, but there stands the chance that he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Felix Verdejo was found guilty on two of the four charges he faced for more than two years in the murder of Keishla Marlen Rodriguez Ortiz.
A jury of nine men and three women in a Puerto Rico federal court concluded that Verdejo was guilty of Kidnapping Resulting in Death and Death of an Unborn child. The honorable Judge Pedro Delgado Hernandez informed the disgraced former boxer of the decision after the panel returned its verdict shortly after 8:00 p.m. local time Friday evening.
“Mr. Verdejo, a jury of your peers found you guilty on counts two and four beyond a reasonable doubt,” Hernandez said upon the conclusion of the 25-day trial.
Each charge separately carries a maximum term of 99 years in prison, since the death penalty was not on the table. The jury was hung on the remaining two charges—Carjacking Resulting in Death and Discharging a Firearm in Relation to a Violent Crime. The carjacking charge also carried a maximum 99-year sentence; a life sentence would have accompanied the firearms charge since it would have accompanied at least one other guilty charge.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 3 at 2:00 p.m. local time.
Friday’s verdict brings closure to a horrifically tragic development dating back to last April, when Rodriguez was missing for three days before found dead on May 1, 2021. Verdejo was initially questioned in her disappearance and then upgraded from person of interest to prime suspect, after which he surrendered to authorities on May 2, 2021.
It was learned shortly after Rodriguez’s disappearance that she had a years-long affair with Verdejo and was one month pregnant with his child.
Verdejo was charged along with co-defendant Luis Antonio Cadiz-Martinez, who separately pleaded guilty last November. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, though consideration for lesser time was due to his agreed cooperation in implicating Verdejo’s role in the gruesome murder of Rodriguez, who was drugged, abducted and shot as she was deposited into Laguna San Jose under the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge.
A non-guilty plea was entered by Verdejo on May 11, 2021, after which point he was jailed for the duration of the criminal case which lasted nearly 27 months. The case appeared before a jury earlier this summer and concluded earlier this week. The jury deliberated for more than three days before reaching its verdict on all four charges.
A lengthy delay in proceeding to trial was due to the change in dynamics of the case.
The government explored the possibility of pursuing a death penalty case before it was taken off the table on January 31. The shift meant a reshuffling of Verdejo’s legal team which was largely comprised of capital punishment experts at the time. Further delays came when it was learned that the former boxer—who represented Puerto Rico in the 2012 London Olympics—lacked the funds to secure proper representations for such a complex trial.
Verdejo (27-2, 17KOs) was already believed to have been financially strained in the early stages of the ongoing court case, having not boxed since December 2020. The former lightweight contender was knocked out in the ninth round by Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani, having scored two early knockdowns before falling apart late in suffering the stoppage in their ESPN-televised bout from MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
Not only will he never box again, but there stands the chance that he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/ ... nant-lover
He deserves to spend the rest of his days in prison.
He deserves to spend the rest of his days in prison.
Last edited by Perseus on 29 Jul 2023, 10:51, edited 1 time in total.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Jeff_lacy_ko
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
He deserves to be tied up and thrown in a river.
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Les Norton
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
They abolished capital punishment in 1929.
I checked this when he was charged as I was assuming that he was on borrowed time too
Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
He got a life sentence
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Ruthless-RKO
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
Felix Verdejo’s boxing past makes him a prison target
Felix Verdejo, once Puerto Rico’s Olympic golden boy, now lives under constant threat after receiving two life sentences for the brutal murder of his pregnant lover.
The disgraced boxer is not just paying the price for his crimes; he’s also being targeted inside because of who he used to be.
The Verdejo Case
Verdejo, 32, was sentenced in November 2023 after a federal jury found him guilty of kidnapping resulting in death and causing the death of an unborn child.
The courtroom heard shocking details from his former friend Luis Antonio Cádiz, who testified that Verdejo punched Keishla Rodríguez, injected her with a fatal mix of fentanyl and xylazine, and dumped her bound body into a lagoon in broad daylight.
The case rocked Puerto Rico and boxing circles worldwide.
A Target in Prison
Once a 2012 Olympian and rising lightweight contender with a 27-2, 17 KOs record, Verdejo’s status as a former prizefighter has made him a walking target behind bars. The prison system, the nature of his crimes, and his boxing reputation have painted a bullseye on his back.
Inmates are keen to test Verdejo to see if he is the fighter he truly portrays to be, following impressive performances in the ring.
Despite being under protective custody, there are suggestions that Verdejo has already faced aggression from other inmates eager to make a name off his downfall.
Verdejo’s lawyer says an appeal is in the works as they hope for a re-trial. However, the court of public opinion, especially among the Puerto Rican community, has already made its judgment.
Once billed as the next Felix Trinidad, Verdejo now ends his story not with belts, but with concrete walls and iron bars. His fall is total, and his crimes have erased his legacy.
Felix Verdejo, once Puerto Rico’s Olympic golden boy, now lives under constant threat after receiving two life sentences for the brutal murder of his pregnant lover.
The disgraced boxer is not just paying the price for his crimes; he’s also being targeted inside because of who he used to be.
The Verdejo Case
Verdejo, 32, was sentenced in November 2023 after a federal jury found him guilty of kidnapping resulting in death and causing the death of an unborn child.
The courtroom heard shocking details from his former friend Luis Antonio Cádiz, who testified that Verdejo punched Keishla Rodríguez, injected her with a fatal mix of fentanyl and xylazine, and dumped her bound body into a lagoon in broad daylight.
The case rocked Puerto Rico and boxing circles worldwide.
A Target in Prison
Once a 2012 Olympian and rising lightweight contender with a 27-2, 17 KOs record, Verdejo’s status as a former prizefighter has made him a walking target behind bars. The prison system, the nature of his crimes, and his boxing reputation have painted a bullseye on his back.
Inmates are keen to test Verdejo to see if he is the fighter he truly portrays to be, following impressive performances in the ring.
Despite being under protective custody, there are suggestions that Verdejo has already faced aggression from other inmates eager to make a name off his downfall.
Verdejo’s lawyer says an appeal is in the works as they hope for a re-trial. However, the court of public opinion, especially among the Puerto Rican community, has already made its judgment.
Once billed as the next Felix Trinidad, Verdejo now ends his story not with belts, but with concrete walls and iron bars. His fall is total, and his crimes have erased his legacy.
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handsofstone
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Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
Some good news for a change
Re: Felix Verdejo Questioned By Authorities Over Missing Woman In Puerto Rico
He better hope there's no Japanese gang members in there.